Read Online This Time for Real by Yahrah St. John - Free Book Online

dispersed from the conference room the following afternoon. He’d beenunsuccessful in convincing them to give the Harlem center additional funds. The only good thing was that a reporter for Manhattan Weekly had come that morning and interviewed him. The story would run in next week’s paper.
    â€œHow did it go?” Theresa asked enthusiastically, as she swung open the conference door.
    â€œDon’t ask,” Malik said, slamming the folder shut.
    Maybe next year or the next, they’d said. But the center couldn’t wait that long. If he had the money, he could have the place painted and the floors done in a matter of weeks. Of course, the kitchen renovation would take a little longer. And then there was the computer center. With technology constantly changing, their equipment was outdated.
    â€œThey turned you down again?” Theresa asked.
    â€œAfraid so. But then again, it wouldn’t be the first time,” Malik replied.
    Several days ago, he’d sent a beautiful woman scurrying away, and he hadn’t seen or heard a word from her in days. Her application had been approved and her background check came back clean, so there was no reason Peyton couldn’t start volunteering immediately. Yet, the lovely professor still hadn’t shown her face, and he had no one to blame but himself.
    â€œDid something else happen?” Theresa was curious about Malik’s comment.
    â€œNothing that I care to expound upon,” Malik replied.
    Theresa thought about pressing him for more information, but she could see that he was in one of his brooding moods. She remembered he used to have them as a youngster and she’d wondered what caused them. But he’d never talked about it. Malik had a tendency to be a loner at times. “All right, if you want to talk I’m here.”
    â€œThanks, Theresa.”
    After he finished hiring a new doctor for the clinic staff, Malik closed up shop at the center and headed over to Dante’s. He was meeting the guys for drinks and some much-needed advice. No offense to Sage, but he’d hadn’t asked her to come along. He did have his pride, after all. And this was man’s business.
    â€œMalik.” Dante smiled when he came in, but then, when he saw the sour expression on his friend’s face, he changed course. “Don’t tell me,’ cause I already know. A woman’s got you down?”
    â€œHow’d you know?” Malik asked.
    â€œWhat’s the cause of most of our troubles?”
    â€œWomen!”
    â€œEnough said,” Dante replied, then went behind the bar and popped open a bottle of beer. He slid it across the countertop towards Malik.
    â€œThanks, man.”
    Quentin came in several minutes later and joined them. “Hey, Malik.” Quentin sat down next to his stubborn friend. He hadn’t heard from him since he’d invited Malik to lunch to meet Richard. Quentin could only assume that Malik was upset with him and had been giving him the silent treatment as he’d done a couple of months ago.
    â€œQ,” Malik said, nodding. “What’s up?”
    â€œYou tell me,” Quentin responded, rubbing his goatee. “A brother hasn’t heard from you in days.”
    Malik shrugged. “Now c’mon, Q. You had to know that I wouldn’t accept a penny from Richard King.” Malik tipped back his bottle of beer and took a generous swig.
    â€œSo this was your way of punishing me?” Quentin sighed. Malik’s temper was getting old. “I thought we’d gotten past this childishness, Malik.”
    â€œAnd we have,” Malik replied, turning to Quentin. “The world does not revolve around you, Q. I do have other things on my mind.”
    An O formed on Quentin’s lips. He hadn’t thought about that.
    â€œThis brother is down and out about that professor at NYU,” Dante offered.
    â€œOh, yeah.” Quentin remembered the